The Opelousas courier., 1887-01-29

. oOAAlS OOASA NV
| where is Blanche2 Why, she's gone, l
declare! How provoking, when we are
in a hurry to decide upon the matterT
It was more than an hour before
Blanche Follett returned, and when at
length she entered the room Theresa and
Sophie were half through the task of
packing their trunks.
"Blanchc!" cried the former, petu-
lantly, ''whcre have you becn"
Gin the next room with a sick old
gentleman, doing my best to nurse him."
blanche! - shrieked Theresa.
"Wcll2" was the calm response.
':Are you madg" cried both girls in
chorus.
'No-only human. If it was my
father" added Blanche, courageously,
"do you think I should want him to lie
alone and unattended in u hotel like
this?"
'Let him send for his friends, " said
Theresa sullenly.
'Who can tell who or what they area"
''Scarch his tlunk-that's the way.
You act like SO many fools" said Sophie
sharply.
~ suppose they will do 50 if he does
not get better Don In the meantime he
needs a daughters care, and the memory
of my own dear, dead father prompts me
to the mission"
''B!ance, you are crazy!" cried out
Miss Dean. "What do you suppose Mr.
Arcbfeld would say to you risking your
life thus2"
81 do not think there is any risk" said
Blanche calmly. Moreover, I believe
Guy would bid me do my duty at any
and all hazards"
"Tm glad my sense of duty isn't quite
so supclfne." said Theresa, scornfully.
"You can do as you please, hut Sophie
and I intend removing at once to the
Mermaid House."
"And if you are sensible you will do
the same" added Miss Dean.
But Blanche shook her head.
''No," she said quietly, 81 have made
up my mind"
''WeIl, then" said Sophie, II wish
that old Snuff Color would die and be
done with it. For it won't be half so
pleasant without you, Blanche"
"OId Snuff Color" however, as So
phie irreverently termed him, did not
die. On the contrary, after that day of
peril the scales of chance seemed to turn
in his favor, and permanent recovery set
in.
my DEAR" said he to Blanche F6l-
lett, 81 have much to thank you for.
Before yesterday l never knew the soft
touch of "a daughter's hand upon my brow,
the music Of a daughters footsteps
around my bedside. Nor shall I consent
to part with them now. mean to keep
you always, my child"
Blanche colored and started at these
incomprehensible words.
docs he mean to adopt me2" she
asked herself. Como, surely that
cannot be possible-he is going to pro-
pose to meg'
But the old gentlemen's next sentence
completely solved the riddle.
s'For ] do not think you have sus-
pected," he added, with a quiet smile,
sthat all your secret charitable offices
have been rendered to-Guy Archfeld's
fathcr!"
Blanche was more frightened than
ever. Surely the old man was insane.
mi. Archield, ST., is in Europe y she
said, hesitatingly.
eHe was, my DEAR" the old man
answered dryly; "but he returned on
the Ariande and he is here by your side.
| t~eleeraphed to Guy this morning; he
will be here in half an hour to confirm
my words. Little Blanche, viii you
give me- a daughters kiss now2"
.eMy own Blanche, you have won his
heart" said Guy Archfeld. 1.-THE only
doubt / ever entertained about our mar
riage-his consents solved at last. He
honors you as you deserve"
And the prettiest of all Blanche Fol-
let's wcdding-gifts was the parure of
diamonds given by her wealthy and &C.
centric old father-in law.
And Theresa Middleton and Sophie
Dean cried out in chorus, as they had
cried before many a time:
blanche is the luckiest gilll"
Profanity Re6Mked.